Goodbye Freud, Hello Common Factors

Gary Greenberg certainly has a way with words. In his most recent article, The War on Unhappiness, published in the August issue of Harper‘s magazine, Greenberg focuses on the “helping profession”–its colorful characters, constantly shifting theoretical landscape, and claims and counterclaims regarding “best practice.” He also gives prominence to the most robust and replicated finding in psychotherapy outcome research: the “dodo bird verdict.” Simply put, the finding that all approaches developed over the last 100 years–now numbering in the thousands–work about equally well. Several paragraphs are devoted to my own work; specifically, research documenting the relatively inconsequential role that particular treatment approaches play in successful treatment and the importance of using ongoing feedback to inform and improve mental health services. In any event, Greenberg’s review of current and historical trends is sobering to say the least–challenging mental health professionals to look in the mirror and question what we really know for certain–and a must read for any practitioner hoping to survive and thrive in the current practice environment. OK. Enough said. Read it yourself here.